Manufacture of a fancy yarn



P. SEGUIN MANUFACTURE OF A FANCY YARN Nov. 18, 1969 3 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed Nov. 6, 1967 FIG. I

? INVENTOR PIERRE 3500/ BY 5W Q 1% ATTORNEY Nov. 18, 1969 SEQUIN3,478,503

MANUFACTURE OF A FANCY YARN Filed Nov. 6. 1967 Y 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 t "/0I'- z 2 s FIG. 2

INV ENT OR PIERRE SEGU/N ATTORNEY Nov. 18, 1969 P. SEQUIN 3,478,503

MANUFACTURE OF A FANCY YARN Filed Nov. 6. 1967 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTORE PIERRE SEGU/IV BY J/MW ATTORNEY United States Patent US. Cl. 5734 9Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A method and apparatus formanufacturing fancy yarn especially helically wound yarn which utilizesmeans to allow the yarn to accumulate after being heat set and tosimultaneously cool yarn to preserve the heat set before any stress isapplied thereto.

The present invention relates broadly to a novel device for themanufacture of a fancy textile yarn, specifically a yarn having ahelical shape. The invention relates further to a process formanufacturing such a fancy yarn.

The textile field has always presented an important area in theindustrial processes of nations. Many uses are made of textilesprincipally, and most importantly, in the clothing field. However, thescope of the use of textiles extends to affect practically every areaand every aspect of human life. In todays world, new uses for textilesare developed more rapidly than new methods of treating and producingtextiles. Each new textile fiber composition, each new fiber shape, eachnew method of treating fibers and each new machine for treating fibers,broadens the feasible uses of textile fibers. Thus, as technologyadvances in the textile field, the advances create a pyramiding effecton the textile industry. However, even this pyramiding effect fails tomeet the new demands for textiles. The demand for a given textile isoften affected by the cost of the textile, so there is a complementarydemand for more efliciently produced textiles. In view of theseconsiderations technicians in the textile industry are constantlystriving to improve the nature and the efliciency of textile operations.

This invention principally relates to a narrow part of the textilefield, but due to the pyramiding effect of technological advances, theinvention has potential applications throughout the broad textileindustry. The specific area most directly affected by this invention isthe area of fancy textile yarns. Fancy textile yarns are used in suchapplications as fur making and chenilles, but also extend to areas suchas crepe fabrics, rug fabrics, and other areas incapable of enumeration.Being even more specific, the invention may be classified as affectingthose fancy yarns comprising helically wound yarns.

Helically wound yarns are produced by coiling a yarn. It is known thatany stress placed on a yarn will be retained to some degree, forexample, housewives often curl ribbons by drawing them across a sharpedge. However, in specific applications, such as imitation furs andchenilles, the yarn must retain its coiled shape to a greater degree.Previously used methods of setting a curl in a yarn involve softeningthe yarn and stressing it. Other improvements comprise freezing the yarnafter stressing by heat setting or evaporating a previously appliedsolvent.

In customary yarn spinning machines, the yarn on a package is placedupon a spindle and is led therefrom by suitable feeding means to atwister where it is twisted in a desired shape. In order to retain thedesired twisted shape, the yarn must be treated to fix its artificialconfiguration.

3,478,503 Patented Nov. 18, 1969 "Ice It is known to manufacture yarnsor threads of helical shape, particularly synthetic yarns or threads, bywinding the yarn in a spiral form on a needle, subjecting the yarn inspiral form to thermal treatment, and setting it in this shape bysubsequent cooling.

In this mode of manufacture, it is important that the cooling should besubstantially complete before the yarn is wound onto a take-up spool oris further processed. Since winding is effected under tension, there isa risk of losing a part of the desired helical shape of the yarn if thecooling is incomplete when winding occurs.

Economical considerations favor natural cooling, for example, by air,since mechanical coolers are expensive and bulky. It is alsoeconomically important that the manufacture of the yarn be effectedcontinuously. Furthermore, the apparatus should be as small as possible,avoiding for example bulky spinners or twisters which are immobile andare expensive to maintain.

The present invention provides a device and method for manufacturing ahelical yarn by winding the yarn spirally on a fixed needle, heating theyarn in a spiral form, cooling the spiral yarn and receiving the setyarn continuously, wherein the said device principally comprises arotary member having a needle which is held immobilized by magneticmeans and an intermediate accumulator for heatset yarn.

The means for driving the rotary member are synchronized with means foradvancing, accumulating and winding the helically wound yarn.

The means for accumulating the yarn comprises a member having an inletand an outlet end mounted on a central pivot wherein the outlet end isprovided with a weight to counterweigh yarn received at the inlet end.The pivoted member rocks at the inlet end under the influence of anaccumulation of yarn and in this way closes an electric circuit whichactivates a wind-up system. When the yarn has been wound on, the striprocks again toward the outlet end of its own accord and accumulationreoccurs.

The device for the fixing of the yarn may comprise any known means.Advantageously, it comprises a heater, for example an oven filled withsaturated steam, which permits the setting of yarns of relatively highcount, such as those utilized in the manufacture of imitation fur yarns,chenille, or carpet yarns.

The present invention also relates to a process for continuouslymanufacturing a helical fancy yarn by winding a yarn about a needle,heat-setting the turns thus formed, cooling and accumulating the saidturns, and winding-up the yarn obtained, the said process being novel inproviding a temporary accumulation step during the cooling operation andbefore the winding up step.

It is a primary object of this invention to provide an apparatus whichproduces a yarn in a heat-set condition which yarn is capable ofretaining that heat-set condition.

A further object is to provide means to produce the subject yarn whereinthe yarn is fully cooled after being heat-set prior to any Winding-up orstressing operation.

Another object is to produce a yarn of the type described in acontinuous manner by utilizing a stationary needle to receive a woundyarn prior to its being heat-set whereby yarn may be continuously woundon said needle while other parts of the apparatus are inoperative.

Another object of this invention is to provide a method of producingyarns which allows continuous production of a perfectly set fancy yarn.

Another object is to provide a method for producing fancy yarns whichavoids the imposition of stresses on the yarn prior to its being fullycooled and fully set in its wound condition.

Additionally, it is an object of this invention to provide a means andmethod for producing the yarn in an economical manner utilizing simpleand sturdy elements.

The present invention will be more readily understood with theassistance of a specific embodiment, given purely by way of example. Theinvention is not to be interpreted as being limited to the specificexample.

The example is illustrated in the figures on the accompanying sheets ofdrawings, wherein like numerals indicate like elements and wherein:

FIGURE 1 shows, diagrammatically, the needle and rotary number, and theheater inlet;

FIGURE 2 is a longitudinal sectional view through the needle and itsrotary member of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line A-A' of FIGURE2; and

FIGURE 4 shows, diagrammatically, the yarn-accumulation device.

In FIGURE 1 there is shown a section line B, upstream of which is themechanical drive and supply (not shown) for the rotary .member and, asection line C downstream of which is the remainder of the heat-settingdevice as seen in FIGURE 4. In order to simplify the figure, the twolimits serve purely for the exclusion of those elements which do notform a part of the invention. Any conventional drive and supply meansmay be used, in connection with this invention.

Referring to FIGURE 1, a rotary shaft 1 carries a rotary member 2, shownin detail in FIGURES 2 and 3.

The rotary member 2 has an inlet 1a and outlet aper tures 2a and 2b. Themember 1 forms an axial conduit through inlet 1a and through member 2.As seen shaft 1 is hollow.

The downstream portion of 2 is recessed and encloses a shorter shaft 3mounted on bearings 4 and 5 carrying a. pole piece 6 between the twobearings. Bearings 4 and 5 allow the body of member 2 to rotate whilemagnets 8 immobilize shaft 3. A needle 7 forms an extension on shaft 3.The needle is slightly frustoconical.

The pole piece 6 is disposed in an air gap separating two oppositemagnets 8 mounted on a support 9. The magnetic flux is such that thepole piece 6 is within the influence of the flux.

It is clear that it would also be possible to employ a single horseshoemagnet or an electromagnet, i.e., equivalents are contemplated herein.

The needle 7 penetrates, downstream, into the inlet tube 10 of a heater11 (see FIGURE 1), thus providing a continuous path for a helical yarnthrough the apparatus.

A grooved roller 12 bears laterally against the needle 7 in accordancewith a predetermined arc. The said roller is positively driven at a slowspeed by appropriate means (not shown) synchronized with the means fordriving members 2 (not shown). Thus roller 12 may advance the coiledyarn along needle 7 at a rate synchronized with the rate of coiling inrotary member 2. Of course, any suitable driving and synchronizing meansmay be utilized and such means form no limiting part of the presentinvention. Those skilled in the art may readily perceive satisfactorymeans. The roller 12 is mounted on a lever 13 which pivots at 14 andwhich is biased by a spring 15 to provide contact with needle 7.

The heater 11 is prolonged in its downstream portion by a tube and acranked tube 21, (see FIGURE 4), so that the path of the heated yarn iscontinuous and complete.

The device for accumulating and cooling the yarn comprises a hollowmember 22 pivoting on a knife edge 23, or any other equivalent meanshaving a low coeflicient of friction. The inlet end receives yarn fromthe heater and the outlet feeds to the wind-up (not shown). The member22 is balanced by a weight 24 at its outlet and its rocking movement inthe outlet direction is limited by an adjustable stop 25.

A point contact member 26 is fastened on the member 22 at the inlet endthereof. The said contact member is made of metal having a goodresistance to arcing, such as silver.

A drop of mercury 27 in a suitable holder constitutes the other contactelement of the electric switch for triggering the winding-on mechanism.The mercury switch is connected in series with a solenoid (not shown)and is adapted to energize the solenoid upon closing the circuit throughcontact 26. Of course, the armature of the solenoid is used to activatethe wind-up motor. Any equivalent switching means are contemplated,however, for example, the conventional mercury switch-solenoid deviceillustrated in US. Patent 2,557,783.

The device functions in the following manner:

A yarn 28 fed into the inlet conduit 1a and the shaft 1; then it emergesthorugh one of the ports 2a or 2b. It follows, longitudinally, thesurface of the rotary member 2, passing between the member and themagnets 8. Its path causes it to be wound spirally on the needle 7 whichis magnetically immobilized within the moving member 2. The member 2rotates at velocities on the order of 15,000 r.p.m. If desired, the yarnmay be pretreated to adapt it to the coiling operation, e.g., by heat orsolvent to soften it.

The yarn 28 forms turns which, under the influence of the thrust exertedby the roller 12, are displaced towards the end of the needle 7.Movement of the coiled yarn is assisted by the smooth surface of theneedle and by its conicity in the direction of movement.

The turns are then heat-set in the heater 11 which may contain steam.Coiled yarn emerges through the tube 21 and accumulates on the member 22until the weight is sufiicient to cause the member 22 to rock in thedirection of the inlet to 22. At this instant, the pointed member 26contacts the drop of mercury 27, thus closing the electric circuit andtriggering the drive .of a wind-on mechanism in the manner describedabove. It is noted that member 22 in the empty state is displaced byweight 24 so that the force of gravity acts on yarn 28 and the smoothsurface of member 22 allows yarn 28 to flow to the outlet end; then yarn28 backs up and accumulates until the excess backup causes anoverbalance at the inlet end having contact 26. When the contactactivates the wind-up device, it may also deactivate driving roller 12if such is necessary for smooth operation. In such a case, yarnaccumulates on needle 7 and in heater 11. When the :weight of the yarnon the inlet side of the member has sufiiciently diminished, due to thewinding-up step the member 22 rocks towards the outlet side, thusopening the electric circuit and stopping the winding-on mechanism. Inextreme cases conventional means may be provided adjacent member 22 toaid in the cooling of the yarn, however, this is often not economicaland in most cases is unnecessary.

The yarn accumulates once again and the cycle repeats. The member 22many be connected in the electrical circuit through the agency of theknife edge 23 to complete a circuit through the contact and strip andother electrical components.

The device according to the invention, due to the high velocity of therotary member 2 and the continuous nature :of the process, perimts aform of production which is useful from the industrial viewpoint. It maybe utilized for any desired type of yarn, whether natural or synthetic,but it is particularly useful in the manufacture of imitation fur yarns,chenille and other yarns produced from synthetic threads such aspolyamide, polyester, polyacrylonitrile, etc.

The circuit for operating the apparatus described herein forms no partof the invention per se and those skilled in the art may readily devisesuitable circuits for operating the invention. However, for simplicitythe use of electrical contact and driving means as described ispreferred.

Having described my invention in full, clear, and concise language whatI desire to protect by Letters Patent 1s:

1. A process for continously manufacturing fancy helically wound yarncomprising the steps of winding a yarn about a needle, sliding theformed coils of yarn free of the needle, heat-setting the helical turnsin the absence of any appreciable stresses, completely cooling thehelical turns free of the needle while accumulating the turns and beforesubjecting the turns to any appreciable stresses, and winding up thecooled turns in heat-set condition.

2. A device for the manufacture of fancy textile yarns including: arotary mounted member having an axial bore therein permitting passage ofthe yarn through the bore and driving means; said member having ahollowedout inner portion coaxial and communicating with said bore;radial slots in said member communicating with said hollowed-outportion; the hollowed-out portion containing a needle mounted onbearings in said member; the needle carrying a polar part which iswithin the air gap of a magnet mounted outside the rotary member; meansfor continually advancing said yarn along said needle; a yarn settingchamber into which the needle extends, the needle terminating justinside the chamber so that the yarn falls off the needle in the chamberand is in a. complete relaxed state in the setting operation; and yarncollecting means.

3. Device according to claim 2 wherein the rotary member has a smoothouter surface with a tapering substantially frustoconical section.

4; Device according to claim 3 wherein said frustoconical sectionconnects large and small substantially cylindrical sections with theneedle within and said magnet surrounding the small cylindrical section.

5. Device according to claim 2 in which the means to advance the yarnout of the rotary member are constituted by a small wheel or roller,placed adjacent to the fixed needle, up the line with respect to thesetting chamber, and synchronized with the rotation driving means of therotary member and yarn collecting means.

'6. Device according to claim 2 further including yarn accumulationmeans receiving the yarn from the chamber, which permit the cooling ofthe yarn loops in a relaxed condition before collection.

7. Device according to claim 6 in which the accumulation means includesa channel horizontally mounted on a central pivot, the extremity of saidchannel opposite the yarn receiving end being equipped with acounterweight, the yarn receiving extremity rocking or tilting under theeffect, of a sutfcient weight of yarn being received with means to closean electrical circuit in response to said rocking or tilting whichtriggers the operation of the collecting means.

8. Device according to claim 7 in which the channel is part of theelectrical circuit through the intermediary of the central pivot.

9. Device according to claim 8 in which the electrical circuit closingmeans are constituted by a pivot switch which dips into a mercury bath.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,980,959 4/1961 Genovese 264168XR 3,039,259 6/1962 Lenoble 5734 3,050,819 8/1962 Allman et al. 5734 XR3,057,015 10/1962 Nichols et al.

3,071,917 1/1963 Fisher 5734 XR 3,147,578 9/1964 Callizano 57343,200,466 8/1965 Duga et al. 281 3,342,026 9/1967 Nichols et al. 5734FOREIGN PATENTS 945,602 6/ 1956 Germany.

MERVIN STEIN, Primary Examiner WERNER H. SCHROEDER, Assistant ExaminerUS. Cl. X.R.

